Stewart crumbles but recovers to edge Mondilla in playoff

TIM STEWART finally nailed the vicvictory that has eluded him the past 11 years — and one that nearly slipped from his clutches again by his own undoing — beating the reigning Philippine Open champion no less in sudden death to claim ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open crown in Tarlac on Saturday.

The Australian turned what had appeared to be a trouble-free romp into a scary triumph, blowing a three-stroke lead with two holes to go with a bogey-double-bogey finish for a 72, and enabling Clyde Mondilla to force a playoff at 15-under 273 after the latter charged back with an eagle-spiked 66.

But in a sudden twist of fate, Stewart came out the victor with a routine par in their return trip to the par-4 18th and Mondilla the vanquished after barely hitting the green and flubbing a par putt from five feet that would’ve extended the match in a fitting ending to a week of uncertainties despite the former threatening to blow the field away with three straight 67s to post a huge four-stroke lead over Guido Van der Valk after 54 holes.

“Finally, I made it,” said Stewart, visibly relieved after saving himself from what could’ve been the biggest embarrassment in a pro career spanning 11 years. “This is sweet. I couldn’t ask for more.”

But the 34-year-old Stewart, who received the replica of the check worth $17,500 from ICTSI Public Relations’ Jupiter Kalambakal and Luisita club manager Jeric Hechanova, said he won’t be vying in next week’s iCTSI The Summit Point World 18 Challenge in Batangas next week for a Tim Stewart hoists his trophy after winning the ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open crown in Tarlac on Saturday.

nLaotian Bebe Bouahom rallied with a 67 to snare fifth place at 279 while second round co-leader Lexus Keoninh of the US matched par 72 to share sixth place at 281 with Rufino Bayron, who carded a second straight 71.

Justin Quiban, winner of the inaugurals of this event in 2017, also charged back with a 69 to salvage joint eighth at 282 with Rupert Zaragoza, who wavered with a 73, while Wang Wei- Lun collapsed with a 75 but still emerged the best finisher from among the 36 Taiwanese, who boosted the elite CAT Open cast, at joint 10th at 283 with former Luisita Championship winner David Gleeson (68) of Australia, and Jhonnel Ababa (70) in this sixth leg of the third season of PGTA backed by PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High.